PARIS -- The European Space Ageny has selected Ariane 5 to launch its latest communications satellite, Artemis, that will play a vital role in developing future European and global communications systems.

An artist impression shows Artemis communicating with a low-Earth orbiting spacecraft such as Spot-4. Click to enlarge this European Space Agency image.

Artemis was originally scheduled for launch on a Japanese H-IIA rocket under a cooperative agreement with the Japanese space agency, NASDA. However, development delays with the launcher meant a review of launch options by ESA during the second half of 2000.

As a result Artemis was switched to Europe's Ariane 5 and is now scheduled for launch as a co-passenger with INSAT 3C in the late summer of this year. The completed satellite is currently in storage awaiting shipment to the French Guiana launch site.

"The difficulties with the Japanese launcher meant we realistically had to look for an alternative in order not to delay the Artemis launch further. The spacecraft was originally built for launch on Ariane so it meant we could make the switch to an Ariane 5 without any design changes," Oppenhauser said.